Dario Salvi

Today's headlines: WHO director-general calls on Israel to stop attacks on Gaza hospitals. New board game simulates Chinese invasion of Taiwan. Taliban leader bans windows (and imposes the closure of existing ones) on the upper floors of buildings overlooking courtyards or areas used by women. Cambodia pardons and sends home 13 Philippine women jailed for illegal trafficking of surrogate mothers.

The testimony to AsiaNews of Fr. Karakach, who speaks of a ‘very special’ celebration amid ‘reassurances’ from the new authorities and ‘massive security presence’. Compared to the past, there was no sign of celebrations on national TV. In some cities, ‘unpleasant’ episodes such as the burning of a Christmas tree, set up again with the help of Muslims. The Jubilee Year a source of courage.

The provincial of the Franciscans custodians of the Holy Sites speaks with AsiaNews about the festivities once again without pilgrims, whose return is ‘linked to the end of the conflict’. The focus is on events in neighbouring Syria, amid ‘suspended’ or ‘moderately positive’ judgements. The Custody ‘increasingly international’ with ‘about sixty’ countries present. The ‘debt’ of Western Christians with their brothers in the Holy Land.

Today's news: Hong Kong cancels passports of seven exiled activists, crackdown on dissent continues; Thousands of Syrians take to the streets in the Kurdish north-east to call for respect for women's rights; Dhaka asks Delhi to repatriate former premier Hasina for ‘legal proceedings’. At Christmas, the law requiring identity verification on social media goes into effect in Vietnam.

Card. Sako speakes of Iraqi Christians' preparations for the festivities as they watch events unfold across teh border with trepidation. The threat of a new Isis, and teh need to be ‘prudent’ and evaluating ‘facts’ not speeches. they need for a Syrian state based ‘on citizenship’ and fight against ‘all sectarianism’. The Christmas wish for a document between the Pope and the Shiite leaders of Iran and Iraq on the example of ‘human brotherhood’.

Today's news: Xi Jinping's ‘war’ on corruption hits record number of senior officials in 2024. After years of delays, the first underground opens in Ho Chi Minh City. Mass flight of health workers since the rise of the Taliban, millions of Afghans without medical care. Taiwan government against opposition-voted rule cutting spending, including defence resources.

A long report by Article18, CSW, Open Doors and Middle East Concern raises the issue. The future for migrants is uncertain with abuse and violence potentially waiting for them should they return to Iran. In 2023, 20 per cent of asylum seekers in Georgia came from Iran, 90 per cent fleeing after converting to Christianity.

In Damascus, threatening words against the Christian minority are spotted in a car. In Hama, someone using a Kalashnikov fired at the Greek Orthodox archbishopric. In a Christian village, a couple was killed during a "burglary" that ended with the man being beheaded. Source tells AsiaNews that Greek Orthodox are targeted because they are considered close to the Russians. Trappist nuns of A'zer note that in their area there is respect, but warn that releasing common criminals has created problems. Bishop Mourad: Beware of news on social media.

The 7.3-magnitude earthquake, which hit yesterday, caused heavy damage, especially in the capital. Several aftershocks were recorded overnight. Rescuers are racing against time to save survivors trapped in collapsed buildings. Two Chinese nationals are among the dead. The Pacific island nation has close relations with China.

Aleppo's parish priests sits down with AsiaNews: in some cases women are asked to wear the veil or drivers to remove symbols such as the cross, but there are also examples of solidarity. And calls from Muslims to rebuild the nation ‘together’. The call for a ‘democratic and civil state’ in which all ‘citizens’ have equal ‘rights and duties’.

​In an exclusive sit down with AsiaNews, Prof. Saad Salloum draws a parallel between the overthrow of the Rais in Iraq and the flight of the Syrian dictator. In both cases it took 13 years for their ouster to ‘drain’ the resources around the leader. Baghdad must ‘take tangible measures to ensure the recovery of the new Syria’ starting with the fight against drugs. Limit the role of Turkey and Iran, set up a reconstruction fund.

Today 204 MPs out of a total of 300 voted on the impeachment motion. There were 85 votes against, three MPs abstained and eight invalidated ballots. At least 12 members of the majority were in favour of the ouster. The constitutional judges (three out of nine are vacant) will have to approve the decision within 180 days. For experts and analysts ‘this is not the end of the turmoil’.